Michelle: Questioning Everything

September 16, 2013 :: Admissionado Team

“Does this make my butt look big?”

I’m going through a period of self-doubt. In fact, I’ve never doubted myself as much as I have since starting my business school essays. I thought life would be so much simpler once I finished the GMAT; after all, I’m a strong writer. Yet, as I’ve been working to flesh out my stories, I constantly find myself wondering how the adcom will interpret every single thing I say.

That’s why I’m so thankful for my consultant, Mark, who I’ve been able to use as a sounding board.

“If I say this, will the adcom think I’m not a team player? Will this other thing make me sound like I’m not assertive enough? Will this make me sound like I’m too assertive?”

In my essays, I can’t simply say, “I am a great leader.” Rather, I need to highlight powerful stories that convey this sentiment. I am basically asking the adcom to read between the lines and understand the implications of my stories. But I constantly fear that they may have other interpretations.

At this point, I’m learning the value of having a second set of eyes on my essays. Whether you choose to hire a consultant or just reach out to a friend or colleague, I recommend finding someone thoughtful to be your sounding board. Sometimes you just need a little reassurance, and sometimes you need someone to say, “Yes, that actually does make your butt look big.”

Michelle’s blogging every two weeks about her MBA Application Adventure. Follow her progress (as it changes daily) here.